The following was written in response to Leon Sigal’s letter to the editor in the January/February 2008 issue of Foreign Affairs.

There has been a remarkably consistent U.S. policy toward North Korea. "Peaceful resolution" through diplomatic means was President George W. Bush’s constant core policy to resolve North Korea’s decades long nuclear weapons effort. This policy was spelled out to allies and to North Korea. Granted, significant voices in the administration – persons who are still very vocal – made remarks that suggested that nothing less than regime change would suffice. But they were and are without support from the president nor have they any realistic alternative strategy. Then and now, these voices represented Washington expressions of indignation rather than policy.